FELIX LESINAIVALU
The launch of large scale commercial agricultural venture in Sigatoka is an investment for the future.
Head of the Tavuni Capital Investment Limited, Suren Kumar said, “Before I retire, I want to do something important, productive and leave a legacy that others can uphold and take to the next level”.
Mr Kumar along with his local partners, Jiten Kumar and Jai Kumar is venturing into large scale goat and sheep farming as well as high valued crops.
“This farm has around 400 goats with around 150 sheep, which is actually small from what we want to achieve.”
“We want to go up to 2000 to 4000 goats and sheep, especially around this farm and surrounding areas.”
“I’ve been in this business for 25 plus years and given advice to very large farms, I am an investment banker by trait, but firstly I am a farmer.”
Minister for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy welcomed the commercial venture saying; “We will ensure Mr Kumar and his partners that we will do all we can to ensure that this venture is successful and becomes a model venture for other commercial farms”.
“I wish to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to other potential investors to establish their operational office here in Fiji and vertically integrate with farm level production activity so that they have full control over supply and quality and value add and export from Fiji.”
Minister Reddy added given the scale of the project, it will take them at least five years to fully establish the commercial venture.
“I am pleased to note that they have already invested in acquiring basic machinery set for farm land preparation, have established a processing and packaging house.”